Is Ecotourism a Viable Tool Toward Sustainability?

The debate over ecotourism's success as a tool for conservation and development in the developing world is aggravated by the dispute over what exactly ecotourism is. The International Ecotourism Society offers a succinct and often cited definition: "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people" (TIES). Ecotourism is often tied to the concept of sustainable development. "Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future" (WTOa). As the notion of ecotourism gained popularity, Boo (1990) was one of the first to express reservations over ecotourism's potential. She warned that it should not be viewed as a harmless alternative to mass-tourism and pointed out its possible dangers. The research that followed was mostly critical of ecotourism and not focused on highlighting any success. Honey (1999) provides a recent, objective and comprehensive look at the realities of ecotourism and its place in a broader development strategy. Measuring ecotourism is difficult because it is often lumped together with nature, wildlife and adventure tourism. "Much of what is marketed as ecotourism is simply mass tourism wrapped in a thin green veneer" (Honey 1999: 51) a concept referred to "ecotourism lite." Acott and La Trobe (1998) refer to the same phenomenon as "shallow ecotourism." They provide a conceptual framework for measuring whether an ecotourism venture is a sincere attempt at sustainability and conservation or if it is simply an exploited term. Ecotourists and their impacts are measured on a continuum ranging from shallow ecotourism to deep ecotourism. Shallow ecotourism differs little from conventional tourism except in its marketing, and deep ecotourism is that in which decisions are made from a biocentric, not anthropogenic, nature. Deep ecotourism views nature as having an intrinsic value.

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...Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction 2
2.0 Current Approaches to Ecotourism Development 3
3.0 Examples of Ecotourism 4
3.1 Case 1: Big 5 Safaris in Kruger National Park, Africa 5
3.1.1 The Impacts of Wildlfe Safari 6
3.1.2 Weakness, Strength, Opportunities, and Threats 9
3.1.3 The Stakeholders 10
3.1.4 Policies, Control & Governmental Support 11
3.2 Case 2: Chumbe Island Coral Park, East Africa 12
3.2.1 The impacts of ecotourism activities in CHICOP 13
3.2.2 Weakness, Strength, Opportunities, and Threats 14
3.2.3 The Stakeholders 16
3.2.4 Policies, Control & Governmental Support 17
4.0 Ecotourism - the Ideal versus the Real 17
5.0 Conclusion 21
6.0 Reference List 22
1.0 Introduction
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Criteria to determine an area as potential ecotourism destination
The area must be rich in natural attraction and conducive to adventure travel.
The area has unique features which maybe very interesting and educational for the visitors.
The area is environmentally rich in terms of the number of flora and fauna and the number of endemic species and endangered wildlife.
The area is threatened by other industries like mining and lodging which may destroy (potential) attraction.
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 111
ESTABLISHING THE GUIDELINES FOR ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT
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WHEREAS, it is the policy of the state to ensure the sustainable use, development,
management, protection and conservation of the country’s environment and natural resources
and cultural heritage for the enjoyment of the present and future generations;
WHEREAS, the development and promotion of ecotourism in the Philippines are viable and
sustainable activities that will promote the protection of our environment while contributing
at the same time to the growth of the economy;
WHEREAS, there is a need to establish an integrating system that shall warrant and focus
government effort to sustain the viability of...

...APPLICATION OF GIS IN ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT:
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A Masters Thesis
Presented to
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By
Md. Azizur Rahman
June 2010
Copyright 2010 by Md. Azizur Rahman
ii
APPLICATION OF GIS IN ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY
IN SUNDARBANS, BANGLADESH
Department of Social Science
Mid-Sweden University, June 2010
Master of Arts
Md. Azizur Rahman
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...ECOTOURISM
Introduction:
Ecotourism is responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strive to be low impact and (often) small scale (as an alternative to mass tourism). Its purpose is to educate the traveller; provide funds for ecological conservation; directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and foster respect for different cultures and for human rights. Since the 1980s ecotourism has been considered a critical endeavour by environmentalists, so that future generations may experience destinations relatively untouched by human intervention. Several university programs use this description as the working definition of ecotourism.
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